Happy Mother’s Day to all Mother’s in the world! Hope your day is wonderful.
A very simple homemade chocolate and vanilla cake with a vanilla cream cheese frosting
Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate chip cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ or flax seeds(optional)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of coarse salt
1/2 cup (1 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cups raisins and 1/2 cup semi sweet mini chocolate chips, add more to your liking.
Mix all ingredients. Scoop onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or golden brown around the edge.
Filed under Cookies
Peeps Sunflower chocolate cake
This peeps chocolate cake is very cute for Easter brunch or dinner.
The chocolate cake is from the Hershey Co. recipe which is a very moist and a rich dark chocolate. Hershey’s Chocolate cake recipe
I used mini chocolate chips for the sunflower seeds. The frosting is also from the Hershey frosting recipe link.
Peeps can also be used as centerpieces. 
Ginger buttery crispy crunchy cookies
I really like a crispy crunchy cookie with my coffee as a snack and this ginger cookie is very crispy! You do not need to be a baker to bake these cookies, this is one of the easiest cookie recipe on my blog. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter soften
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon ground ginger powder
1 1/2 tablespoon of mince fresh ginger root
sugar crystal for sprinkling (optional) or dust with powder sugar
Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees
Direction:
Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper
Using a mixer , cream the sugar, butter and vanilla until fluffy, all the other ingredients into the bowl and blend well . The dough will be soft and will form a ball like dough.
Roll the dough into small balls and place on the cookie sheet. Place the crystal sugar in a small dish . Dip the dough ball into the crystal sugar. Place the dough ball on the cookie sheet, using a fork press down on the dough ball flatten slightly placing the cookies 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown about 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for a 2 minutes on the cookie sheet than transfer to a wire rack.
This is how you will get a very crispy cookie.
Filed under Cookies
Manti Turkish Homemade dumplings with a yogurt garlic chili sauce
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose Flour
1 egg lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 lbs. ground lamb, veal or beef
1/3 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup dice onions
fresh ground pepper and salt
Sauce:
2 cups Yogurt
minced garlic
Pepper, butter, sumac and chili flakes according to taste
fresh chopped mint
sprinkle sumac spice (reddish-purple powder used as a spice in Middle eastern cuisine to add a lomony taste to salads or meat.
Directions:
Mix the flour and salt in a bowl.
Add egg and water, mixing well using your hands.
Add more water, to soften dough, if needed.
Add more water, to soften dough, if needed.
Cover dough with a clean dish towel and set aside for 30 minutes.
For filling:
Combine diced onion, raw ground beef or lamb,onion, parsley and salt.
Mix well and set aside meat mixture.
Mix well and set aside meat mixture.
Divide dough into two pieces and
lightly dust a work surface and dust rolling-pin with flour. Divide dough into 2 balls.
lightly dust a work surface and dust rolling-pin with flour. Divide dough into 2 balls.
Using half of dough and other half of dough covered in a bowl.
Roll into a rectangle, rolling the dough thin.
Cut into rolled dough into 2-inch squares with a knife .
Spoon meat filling in the center of each square.
Seal dumplings by gathering the edges of the dough and pinching them together at the top to form as if making won tons.
Place each finished manti on a floured platter and sprinkle flour each time over the finished manti to prevent from sticking
.
Refrigerate until ready to use.
In a large pot bring water to a boil add a big pinch of salt. Gently drop manti into boiling water.
First time I made manti the dumplings were too big
Boiling Dumplings:
Cooked manti will float when done to surface when done, about 9 to 10 minutes, check the dumpling while cooking. Do not over cook the dumplings, drain well. Spoon the dumplings on a plate adding the toppings mixture. Garnish with chopped mint.
TOPPING: Do not burn the chili flakes.
In a small saucepan heat oil at a low heat and add red pepper flakes
until pepper flakes have started to color the oil.
until pepper flakes have started to color the oil.
When oil is a light red remove from heat and set aside,
Mix minced garlic into room temperature yogurt, add salt and a little water if yogurt is too thick.
Big manti dumplings
Serve warm with yogurt mixture sauce and red chili oil.
Place dumplings on a platter transfer to plates. Add yogurt sauce over the manti
(dumplings) and drizzle with the hot pepper oil. and fresh chopped mint for garnish and sprinkle sumac(opional).
Dumplings are supposed to be very tiny in size but as always I do not have enough time in the day to make it the traditional way. Maybe one day when I have a few hours of leisure time. I will add another photo and make star style dumpling by pinching the ends to form a star.
Chile oil can be found at most markets, already bottled. I always buy it at Asian markets.
finally tiny dumplings,pinch the corners together to form a star.
Finally I learn to make it right with smaller dumplings, mint, sumac, etc. I sometimes crave manti, so when I want to eat it it must be perfect, the Turkish way!
Filed under International, Pasta
St. Patrick’s Day recipes
Irish sweet scones: Scone recipe
Irish Lamb Stew a National dish lamb stew
Irish Soda Bread soda bread recipe
St. Patrick Oreo mint cookies Oreo recipe
Marshmallow Giant pops on a stick for St. Paddy’s Day Marshmallow pops recipe
St. Patrick Pretzel rods Pretzel Rods
St. Patrick Green Sugar crispy and chewy cookies Green Sugar cookies
Shamrock Rice Krispes Shamrock recipe
Filed under Bread, Cookies, Holiday, Irish recipes
Toasted Coconut and Dates cookies
Coconut lover will love this recipe with a touch of sweetness from palm dates and toasted coconut.
ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted soft butter
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons dark molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups coconut shedder
1 teaspoon baking soda
big pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups chopped dates
optional: chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans
Direction: Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees. Bake until golden brown or about 10-12 minutes
In a large bowl mix the eggs, vanilla, butter and molasses than combine all dry ingredients and whisk. Add the coconut and dates. Mix well.
The cookie dough will be sticky. On a clean surface place wax paper than place the shredded coconut on the wax paper. Using a spoon, place the dough on the coconut and gently roll the dough on the coconut. Roll the dough into a ball on place on a grease cookie sheet or use parchment paper. Flatten the cookie gently. Bake until golden brown.
Filed under Cookies
Crispy Oatmeal cookies with Dates
A crispy oatmeal cookie on the outside and the inside is a soft texture with a dates and nuts in every bite. I love this oatmeal cookie with coffee, it is very crunchy with lots of flavor. This is a basic oatmeal cookie recipe, you can enhance the texture and flavor each time you make oatmeal cookies with your own creativity.
The recipe makes about 30 cookies. You can freeze half the cookie dough for later or cut the recipe in half for less cookies.
ingredients:
1 cup unsalted soft butter
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon honey
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
big pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups old fashion raw oats
1 cup chopped dates
optional: chopped almonds,walnuts,pecans, raisins, mini chocolate chips, or cranberries, rice kripes cereal(for a crunch)
2 cup raw oats to roll the cookies in before baking
Direction: Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees. Bake until golden brown or about 10-12 minutes
In a large bowl mix the eggs, vanilla, butter and honey than combine all dry ingredients and whisk. Add your nuts and dates. Mix well.
The cookie dough will be sticky. On a clean surface place wax paper than place the dry raw oat on the wax paper. Using a spoon, place the dough on the oat and gently roll the dough on the oats. Roll the dough into a ball on place on a grease cookie sheet or use parchment paper. Flatten the cookie gently. Before baking the cookie, you can also sprinkle a mixture of sugar and cinnamon on top of the cookie. Bake until golden brown.
Filed under Cookies
Strawberry Salad with Feta cheese and Blueberries
This Strawberry salad is refreshing for a summer backyard BBQ or a luncheon with the girls. It is seasonal and very colorful with a great flavor of Feta, Strawberries and a hint of pepper. A 4th of July Salad…Red, White and BlueIngredients:
1 1/2 cups baby spinach
1 cup augural
1 cup blueberries
1 cup slices strawberries plus a few whole berries
French Feta cube to your liking
juice of one lemon luncheon
juice of 1 orange
2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup of purple onion diced
1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves
fresh ground pepper
salt
1 1/2 cups baby spinach
1 cup augural
1 cup blueberries
1 cup slices strawberries plus a few whole berries
French Feta cube to your liking
juice of one lemon luncheon
juice of 1 orange
2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup of purple onion diced
1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves
fresh ground pepper
salt
Directions:
In A large salad bowl add the salad greens, berries, onion. Set a side. Refrigerate.
In a jar mix the lemon, orange, olive oil and salt. Shake well. Set a side.
Before serving pour the dressing over the salad and add the cube feta cheese and mint leaves.
Salt & pepper to your liking. Serves 4
Filed under Salad, Vegetarian
Honey Bran Muffins Mimis Cafe style
This bran muffin is super moist and a hint of sweetness., great for a weekend brunch or make them for the week to take to work or pack a snack for lunch or coffee time break. This bran muffin recipe is as close as you get to a Mimis cafe recipe. recipe was adapted by Denise G from Key ingredients.
Ingredients:
1 cup of all-purpose flour
2 cups bran flake cereal
4 teaspoon dry power milk
pinch of baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons dark molasses
1/4 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
1 large egg
4 teaspoons orange zest
Topping:
1 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoons dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter
3 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons water
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl and set a side. Oil each cup in your muffin pan. Mix the toppings together and spoon the topping mixture into the each muffin cup (like making an upside down cake).
Spoon the muffin mixture on top of the topping mixture 2/3 full. Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until it comes out clean by inserting a tooth pick.
As soon as the honey bran muffins are bake and out of the over, flip the muffins try on a large tray, serving plate, parchment paper or wax paper.
Cool the Honey bran muffins before eating so they will not fall apart. Enjoy.
Filed under Muffins